RV receptacle needed
#1
08-26-13, 10:31 PM
RV receptacle needed
New to the forum. Looks like i'll be spending some time on here.:HF2:
I'm putting in a 30 amp receptical off my main panel. I understand I am suppose to use a 30 amp 120 volt single pole Breaker. I went to Home Depot and all I could find was a 30 amp 120/240 volt single pole Breaker. Will I burn up my RV if I use this?
Thanks for the help Luv
I'm putting in a 30 amp receptical off my main panel. I understand I am suppose to use a 30 amp 120 volt single pole Breaker. I went to Home Depot and all I could find was a 30 amp 120/240 volt single pole Breaker. Will I burn up my RV if I use this?
Thanks for the help Luv
#2
08-26-13, 11:00 PM
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wet side of Washington state.
Posts: 16,321
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Yes, you will most certainly burn up the RV by using a circuit breaker rated at 120/240 volts. 
No, the above is NOT true. However, since you had to ask the question I surmise that you do NOT have the necessary knowledge to be installing the circuit breaker and receptacle. Educating yourself is not difficult and starts with you purchasing the book Wiring Simplified and reading it cover to cover. You can buy this book on-line or in most mega-mart home improvement centers for less than $10. It is usually found in the electrical aisle rather than the books and magazines section.
Also, in the future please do NOT "piggy back" onto an existing thread. It confuses the heck out of those trying to help. The "start new thread" button is located in the upper left hand corner. A moderator will move your post to a new thread this time.
No, the above is NOT true. However, since you had to ask the question I surmise that you do NOT have the necessary knowledge to be installing the circuit breaker and receptacle. Educating yourself is not difficult and starts with you purchasing the book Wiring Simplified and reading it cover to cover. You can buy this book on-line or in most mega-mart home improvement centers for less than $10. It is usually found in the electrical aisle rather than the books and magazines section.
Also, in the future please do NOT "piggy back" onto an existing thread. It confuses the heck out of those trying to help. The "start new thread" button is located in the upper left hand corner. A moderator will move your post to a new thread this time.
#3
08-27-13, 06:11 AM
Forum Topic Moderator
If you used a two pole breaker you would just have one pole unused. Single pole breakers should be readily available.
#5
08-27-13, 08:47 AM
Breaker
Thanks for all the help.
I just checked the MAIN PANEL and I saw a
Murray MP3030 1 Pole Duplex 30/30 amp, 120/240 VAC Breaker. The bottom leg of the breaker is not being used. Can I just connect my #8 black (hot) wire into the breaker and be good to go?
Murray MP3030 1 Pole Duplex 30A-30A Circuit Breaker - LA Lighting Store.com
My run is approx. 5' long. I am running #8 AWG for the hot, #10 AWG for the neutral and #12 for AWG the ground. I'm using a
30A-125v (TT-30R) outlet
Does this sound right?
I just checked the MAIN PANEL and I saw a
Murray MP3030 1 Pole Duplex 30/30 amp, 120/240 VAC Breaker. The bottom leg of the breaker is not being used. Can I just connect my #8 black (hot) wire into the breaker and be good to go?
Murray MP3030 1 Pole Duplex 30A-30A Circuit Breaker - LA Lighting Store.com
My run is approx. 5' long. I am running #8 AWG for the hot, #10 AWG for the neutral and #12 for AWG the ground. I'm using a
30A-125v (TT-30R) outlet
Does this sound right?
#6
08-27-13, 09:03 AM
Actually you would use one black #10, one white #10, and one green #10. (Ground wire optional if continious metal conduit to metal box but recommended.
Not sure where you got the 240 volt part from. The number sources to a twin single pole 120v breaker. Yes, you can use the unused side.
Above assumes you are using conduit. If not you must run protected cable.
I saw a
Murray MP3030 1 Pole Duplex 30/30 amp, 120/240 VAC Breaker.
Murray MP3030 1 Pole Duplex 30/30 amp, 120/240 VAC Breaker.
Above assumes you are using conduit. If not you must run protected cable.
#7
08-27-13, 09:26 AM
Thx Ray
I am using larger guage wire because I plan on upgrading to a 50 amp service in the future.
I got the Murray MP3030 1 Pole Duplex 30/30 amp, 120/240 specifications from the web page. The Breaker I have in the panel only says "Murray MP 3030". This will work??..
The 5' run is in conduit.
thx luv
I am using larger guage wire because I plan on upgrading to a 50 amp service in the future.
I got the Murray MP3030 1 Pole Duplex 30/30 amp, 120/240 specifications from the web page. The Breaker I have in the panel only says "Murray MP 3030". This will work??..
The 5' run is in conduit.
thx luv
#8
08-27-13, 10:20 AM
50 amp
I was told that for a 50 amp service I could use #8 AWG for the hots, #10 AWG for the neutral and #12 AWG for the ground. This is a 5' run.
Is that not the case??
Is that not the case??
#9
08-27-13, 10:27 AM
I was told that for a 50 amp service I could use #8 AWG for the hots, #10 AWG for the neutral and #12 AWG for the ground.
#10
08-27-13, 10:33 AM
I got the Murray MP3030 1 Pole Duplex 30/30 amp, 120/240 specifications from the web page.
You can even verify it is a 120 breaker by measuring between the two breaker termanils. If it is 0 volts it is a 120 volt breaker.
#11
08-27-13, 11:10 AM
I understand now.
In the future my In-Laws may live in the RV. That being the case, they may run 2 AC units and the microwave at the same time. They will constantly be tripping the 30 amp breaker. So at that time I would upgrade to a 50 amp service. So i'm trying to run the right wires now so I don't have to pull new wires later. At that time all I will have to do is buy a new 50 amp breaker.
How do I measure between the two breaker terminals if it is 120 breaker?
thank you very much for all the help.
In the future my In-Laws may live in the RV. That being the case, they may run 2 AC units and the microwave at the same time. They will constantly be tripping the 30 amp breaker. So at that time I would upgrade to a 50 amp service. So i'm trying to run the right wires now so I don't have to pull new wires later. At that time all I will have to do is buy a new 50 amp breaker.
How do I measure between the two breaker terminals if it is 120 breaker?
thank you very much for all the help.
#12
08-27-13, 12:19 PM
How do I measure between the two breaker terminals if it is 120 breaker?
A 120v 30 amp connection uses three wires. A 50 amp 240v uses four wires. The #6 needed for the 50 amp probably will not fit in the terminals for the 120v receptacle. You're trying to make an apple that can later be eaten as an orange just to save the ten minutes needed to change out the wires. <opinion> Doesn't make sense.
#13
08-27-13, 12:44 PM
You will also be going to a 120/240V feed to a subpanel in your RV if you go to 50A, everything about it will be different, including a 2-pole 240V breaker in your panel to feed and protect it.
I'm wondering whether it might be easier and simpler to go ahead and install the proper receptacle on the house and inlet on the RV for the 50A feed now, if you're pretty sure you'll be doing that eventually.
I'm wondering whether it might be easier and simpler to go ahead and install the proper receptacle on the house and inlet on the RV for the 50A feed now, if you're pretty sure you'll be doing that eventually.
#14
08-27-13, 06:20 PM
Didn't know the #6 wire for the 50 amp wouldn't fit in the terminals for the 120v receptacle.
I thought I would save time and money by running the larger gauge wire now and just change the 30 amp breaker at a later date to a 50 amp breaker. I guess that won't work..
I thought I would save time and money by running the larger gauge wire now and just change the 30 amp breaker at a later date to a 50 amp breaker. I guess that won't work..
#15
08-27-13, 06:26 PM
My RV already has a cord with a 50 amp plug on the end of it. When I connect to a 30 amp service I put a 50 to 30 amp pigtail on the cord and plug it in. I don't know if that changes anything.
I probably won't change over to a 50 amp for a year or two.
I probably won't change over to a 50 amp for a year or two.
#16
08-27-13, 07:28 PM
Super Moderator
In the future my In-Laws may live in the RV. That being the case, they may run 2 AC units and the microwave at the same time.
My RV already has a cord with a 50 amp plug on the end of it.
Its 50 amp so just run 50 amp... Its a split panel in the rv..You have two a/c units. One runs on one side one on the other side of the panel.
When I connect to a 30 amp service I put a 50 to 30 amp pigtail on the cord and plug it in.
With the cheater you are only getting 30 amps to the rv.
( Best to run it right IMO) ...
the pedestals for rv's ( 50 amp) have two 50 amp breakers for 100 amps total. So you will be short changing the rv 70 amps of power....
Do it right and give the camper its full wattage....
( Just from my camper experience... I am not an electrician and dont want to confuse the issue....
#17
08-27-13, 08:10 PM
the pedestals for rv's ( 50 amp) have two 50 amp breakers for 100 amps total.
#18
08-27-13, 08:33 PM
Super Moderator
No, the total amps is still considered 50 amps but you have increased the available watts from 3600 to 12000 over three times as much.
You could look at it as having two 50 amp 120 volt feeds instead of one 30 amp feed but that isn't the way it is normally expressed.
No matter.... Just trying to stress to the OP why do double the work
You said it best here ray.
You're trying to make an apple that can later be eaten as an orange just to save the ten minutes needed to change out the wires.
#19
08-27-13, 08:41 PM
I understood you Mike but my reply was for all those who get the breaker size wrong. We had one member who for several posts kept say the water heater was on a forty amp breaker. We kept saying the breaker was probably too large. Then when they posted a picture we realized it was a twenty amp breaker and actually too small. Similar confusion has happened in other posts.
